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Theophylline/ephedrine
Combination of theophylline and ephedrine used to treat asthma From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Theophylline ephedrine (INN), or theophylline/ephedrine, sold under the brand name Franol among others,[1] is a fixed-dose combination formulation of theophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist, and ephedrine, a norepinephrine releasing agent and indirectly acting sympathomimetic agent, which has been used as a bronchodilator in the treatment of asthma and as a nasal decongestant.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][2] It was first studied and used to treat asthma in the 1930s or 1940s and combinations of the two drugs subsequently became widely used.[9][7][10] A ratio of 5:1 theophylline to ephedrine is usually used in combinations of the drugs.[11] Later research found that the combination was no more effective for asthma than theophylline alone but produced more side effects.[9][1][12][7]
Combinations of theophylline, ephedrine, and phenobarbital (brand name Tedral among others) have also been widely used to treat asthma.[12][13][14][15] Many such combinations have been marketed with numerous brand names.[15] Theophylline has also been marketed in combination with other ephedrine-like sympathomimetics like racephedrine and pseudoephedrine and with other barbiturates such as amobarbital and butabarbital, among other drugs.[15] A combination of theophylline, ephedrine, and hydroxyzine has been marketed under the brand name Marax among others as well.[16][17][18] Combinations of theophylline, ephedrine, and a barbiturate were later phased out in favor of combinations of theophylline and ephedrine alone (e.g., brand name Franol).[2][1] Fixed-dose combinations of theophylline and ephedrine were abandoned after the 1970s as they did not allow for dose titration in asthma therapy owing to the toxicity of ephedrine.[19]
The effects of theophylline/ephedrine as a performance-enhancing drug in exercise and sports have been studied.[20][21] Use of theophylline/ephedrine combinations has led to disqualification of elite athletes due to ephedrine being banned in competitive sports.[22]
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